Standard Schnauzer

Other names: medium schnauzer , standard schnauzer , schnauzer

The standard schnauzer is a dog from the group of schnauzers, which has proven itself to be an excellent watchman and search engine. Distinctive features of the breed are the square format of the body, spectacular “eyebrows” and a “beard” made of long adorning hair.

Characteristics of Standard Schnauzer

Basic moments

• The name of the breed is translated from German as “medium size muzzle”: from Mittel – medium size and Schnauze – muzzle.
• Standard Schnauzers are typical leaders who want to dominate everything that moves, so when you get such a dog, get ready to periodically remind her who is the boss in the house.
• Despite the innate suspicion and distrust of strangers, in the family circle, animals behave very emotionally, violently expressing their own affection for the owner and the rest of the household.
• The standard schnauzer is an active breed, “planted” for regular physical activity and long walks, so before buying a puppy, really evaluate your own capabilities. If you realize that a sofa and a TV are still closer to you than daily runs in park areas, it makes no sense to start a standard schnauzer.
• All standard schnauzers are very smart and quick-witted, which sometimes slows down their learning. During training, the dog may be cunning or lose interest in the process, so it will have to be constantly stimulated with something.
• The standard schnauzer is able to get along with cats and other dogs, provided that he grew up with them. But at the sight of small animals, including rodents, the four-legged “bearded man” may not be able to restrain himself – the instinct of a hereditary rat catcher turns out to be stronger.
• With proper training, standard schnauzers make wonderful working dogs that can participate in search work. In particular, the sharp scent of mittels allows them to quickly take the trail and not lose it even in not the most favorable conditions.

The standard schnauzer is a smart, devoted friend, though not without a healthy share of pride and leadership qualities. Energetic and sociable, the mittel will never let its owner get bored or at least just relax, therefore, bringing such a dog into the house, you automatically sign up for maximum interaction with it and regular walks in any weather. At the same time, if you come up with some “important mission” for a four-legged companion, such as protecting the territory, the standard schnauzer will easily curb his own emotionality, because work and service to a person for this breed is almost the meaning of all life.

The history of the breed schnauzer

Although images of dogs that outwardly resemble today’s standard schnauzers can be found on the canvases of Albrecht Dürer and Lucas Cranach the Elder, the true roots of the breed should be sought in 3-4 millennia BC. It was during this period that the territory of modern Germany was inhabited by the so-called peat dogs, which endowed the ancestors of the mittels with an oblong, massive skull. If we talk about modern representatives of the family of standard schnauzers, then they are a “product” of interbreeding. So, according to one version, a gray wolfspitz, a wire-haired pinscher and a German poodle took part in creating the appearance of the “bearded guards”. At the same time, some experts attribute kinship with standard schnauzers to terriers, griffons and even pugs.

In an independent breed, the standard schnauzers took shape quite late. At first, because of the rough, wiry coat, animals were classified as wire-haired pinschers. At the same time, the people continued to call the mittels stable pinschers, assigning them the role of rat catchers and keeping them in the stables. The starting point in the formation of the breed was 1879, when one of the representatives of the standard schnauzer family managed to grab the main prize at an exhibition in Hannover. Despite the fact that the champion was presented by the jury as a Wirehaired Pinscher, this did not affect the breeders’ interest in him. By 1880, the standard schnauzers had the first standard of appearance, and in 1921 the animals acquired their own club, which, however, they had to share with the same pinschers.

The Standard Schnauzers emigrated to the USA at the beginning of the 20th century and made a good show career there, although initially American specialists recorded them in the terrier group. But already in the mid-40s, justice triumphed and, at the numerous requests of overseas breeders, the breed was transferred to the working group. In Russia, the breeding of standard schnauzers was started only at the end of the 70s of the XX century. The first seven pepper puppies were born in 1979 from a Dutch female and an Australian male, and a few months later, offspring from two German sires were added to them. In the 80s, black standard schnauzers finally got to the USSR, with whom the specialists of the Podolsk club were the first to work.

Video: Mittelschnauzer

The appearance of the standard schnauzer

Figuratively speaking, the standard schnauzer is an intermediate link between the giant schnauzers and the miniature schnauzers , and the main distinguishing feature of all three breeds is the size. An adult mittel is 20 cm lower than the average rizen and almost 15 cm higher than the zwerg. Among other things, the standard schnauzer has a stockier build, which gives it a pleasant compactness and solidity.

Head

The standard schnauzer has a large, elongated skull with a slightly pronounced occiput and a flat forehead. The muzzle of representatives of this breed is wedge-shaped, with a blunt ending and a noticeable stop.

Teeth and jaws

All standard schnauzers have large teeth and impressive jaws that close in a scissor bite.

Nose

In purebred individuals, the nose is massive, with well-opened nostrils, so the scent of standard schnauzers is excellent. The only acceptable color of the earlobe is black.

Eyes

The eyes of the standard schnauzer are dark, oval in shape, set evenly. The look of the animal is open and inquisitive.

Ears

By nature, the standard schnauzer has triangular ears hanging on cartilage, however, most domestic breeders stop this part of the body of their wards and artificially form its setting. As a result, cropped ears take a standing position and have a pointed triangular shape.

Neck

The neck of the standard schnauzer is moderately muscular, of normal thickness, with a spectacular scruff. The skin on the neck and under the throat is tightly stretched, without noticeable folds and wrinkles.

Frame

Standard Schnauzers are characterized by a rectangular body shape with a slightly sloping topline. The back of the dogs of this breed is short and strong, with a deep, strong loin. Chest of sufficient depth and width, distinctly protruding forward. The groin line is selected.

limbs

The legs of the standard schnauzer are straight, not very narrow, but not too wide set. The hind limbs are noticeably drawn back, the shoulder blades are close to the chest, the elbows are well pressed to the body. The hips of an adult animal are elongated, with a good amount of muscle mass. Lower legs are long, sinewy, hocks with normal angulations, without obvious inward or outward eversion. The paws of the standard schnauzer are short, arched type.

Tail

The tail is in the shape of a crescent or sickle, of natural length. According to the updated European standard, the tail of the standard schnauzer is not stopped, therefore, animals, to which the owners arbitrarily shortened this part of the body, are disqualified at foreign exhibitions. In Russia, this innovation has not yet gained popularity, so most domestic breeders still practice docking.

Wool

The coat of the standard schnauzer is hard and coarse with a thick undercoat and an awn of normal length, well adjacent to the body of the animal. In the area of ​​the forehead and ears, the hair is very short, while the muzzle and superciliary arches of the dog are decorated with long strands of decorating hair – the so-called “eyebrows”, “beard” and “mustache”.

Color

The standard schnauzer has only two standard colors – black and pepper and salt. The latter is a multi-tone, consisting of harmoniously combined gray, silver and steel shades. By the way, black and pepper individuals are bred separately from each other and exhibited in different rings. Exceptions are exhibitions in Great Britain and the USA, where black and pepper standard schnauzers are exhibited on the same site.

Defects and vices of the breed schnauzer

The following defects in appearance can prevent a standard schnauzer from getting a championship title:

• too short or, conversely, overly elongated limbs;
• lightweight physique;
• broad-bonedness;
• eversion of elbows;
• cow’s feet;
• non-standard growth (deviation up to 3 cm in any direction).

As for disqualification in competitions, animals with behavioral deviations, congenital malformations of color and physique, as well as various deformities can fall under it. Atypical bite, insufficient or too high growth, as well as inconsistency with the breed type will also help to exclude the mitten from the list of contestants.

Photo of a standard schnauzer

The nature of the standard schnauzer

All standard schnauzers are specialists of a wide profile, able to equally successfully get used to the role of an energetic companion, a harsh bloodhound or even a rescuer. Such an innate character trait as suspicion of strangers makes dogs excellent guards: a standard schnauzer with an almost photographic memory will instantly determine who exactly is standing on the threshold of his house – a guest invited by the owners or an intruder. Among other things, the breed is characterized by quick wit, turning into fox cunning, which standard schnauzers use with pleasure not only in relation to their own kind, but also in communication with the owner. Yes, yes, get ready for the fact that you will have to measure wit and intelligence with a pet quite often, and especially in the process of training.

The outstanding mental abilities of the breed, about which lovers of mittels talk so much, do not manifest themselves – they must be constantly developed. Intellectually, the standard schnauzer grows throughout his adult life, so it is very important to communicate with him as much and as often as possible. As for the emotional component, the standard schnauzers can be called passionate natures without exaggeration. Whatever these bearded clever women do, they always give themselves to the cause entirely and without a trace. If you managed to win the love of a pet, get ready for the fact that he will express it violently and often at a moment when you do not expect it at all. At the same time, standard schnauzers are absolutely unobtrusive and quickly understand the intentions of the owner, who wants to get rid of dog tenderness as soon as possible.

The desire for leadership in the breed is expressed very clearly, therefore, throughout his life, the standard schnauzer will test your authority for strength in the most incredible ways. By the way, having received a single indulgence, animals are even more inspired and try from the bottom of their hearts, so it’s more expensive for yourself to yield to a standard schnauzer even in small things. Well, a little about love for children, more precisely, about the attitude towards them. In fact, standard schnauzers do not have too tender feelings for the younger generation. It’s just that they naturally have the habit of being loyal and patronizing towards weaker creatures, so, of course, they will forgive the harmless pranks of a baby dog, but they will not tolerate outright disrespect for their own person. Accordingly, if your heir loves to drag the standard schnauzer by the “beard” or take away his bowl of food, it is better to explain to him in an accessible way,

Education and training

Standard schnauzers are smart, snapping at any learning task like seeds. Another thing is that representatives of this breed do not always want to solve them, so training a pet should be based on his enthusiasm for the process. If the standard schnauzer is bored with the monotonous repetition of commands, believe me, he will find a way to evade this uninteresting activity.

It is necessary to educate and socialize a puppy of a standard schnauzer from the first days of life. Trite, hackneyed, but nevertheless: if you indulge the baby even in insignificant things, then it will be impossible to retrain him later. So do not be fooled by the touching glances of your ward and immediately “turn on” a serious owner in yourself. In addition, abruptly extinguish all outbreaks of aggression in your direction: today the bite of a tiny standard schnauzer does not seem painful, but tomorrow, when the dog grows up, it will be laughable. It is also important to understand that teenage puppies often lose their minds and pose a threat to the owner, getting used to the role of alpha males. The first sign that the standard schnauzer has “forgotten” and gone into a rage is his glazed look. It will be difficult to stop such a dog, so just try to switch his attention to some object.

Too dispersed in their games and smashing the apartment of a puppy mittel can be punished, but without fanaticism. An ordinary slap with a slipper and a menacing shout will have a sobering effect on a raging teenager. It is useless to seriously beat a standard schnauzer who has gone into a rage. Firstly, because in the heat of anger the animal is easy to harm, and secondly, because an angry schnauzer is insensitive to pain and can perceive physical violence as a signal to attack. Punishing a dog retroactively is one of the most pointless measures. No matter how smart the standard schnauzer is, he still won’t guess to tie together the negative coming from the owner and the wallpaper slashed an hour ago.

If, due to circumstances, the puppy has to be left alone in the apartment, give him more toys. It can be not only store balls, but also all kinds of fruits and vegetables that the baby will roll on the floor and gnaw. A typical mistake of owners who are not familiar with the breed is buying a puppy for a child so that he learns the basics of training. The innate leadership qualities of a standard schnauzer will not allow him to obey someone whom he considers obviously more stupid than himself, and a child in the eyes of a dog looks like a creature of a lower order.

Don’t delay getting to know the street and other dogs. By 8 months, a standard schnauzer should calmly accept his four-legged counterparts and not shy away from the sounds of public transport and crowds of people. If you are raising a future watchman, do not try to “make friends” with a large number of people. In particular, do not let your guests and acquaintances cajole the standard schnauzer with treats and affection. However, raising a ferocious misanthrope from a pet is also not worth it. The guard standard schnauzer should treat strangers calmly, with slight suspicion, but not ferocity.

Owners who raise show animals will have to teach their pets not only to adequately respond to large crowds of people, but also to endure the touch of strangers. Well, in order for the standard schnauzer to get used to tactile contact, it will have to be massaged and combed more often. It’s good to involve outsiders in this case. For example, ask someone you know to check your pet’s teeth by first fixing the dog’s head with a so-called noose. By the way, when teaching a standard schnauzer an exhibition stance and proper behavior in the ring, it is better not to use treats at all.

Maintenance and care

In dimensions, the mittels are significantly inferior to their relatives, the Giant Schnauzers, which makes their maintenance in the apartment more comfortable. But if you are interested in the opinion of the standard schnauzer himself, then there is no doubt that he will vote with all four paws for a house with a garden or a large plot where you can run around unhindered all day long.

Hygiene

With proper care, the shedding coat of the standard schnauzer does not crumble like many other breeds, and almost does not have an unpleasant canine smell. And yet, if you are not indifferent to the appearance of a pet, you will have to mess with his “fur coat” often and a lot. It is better to start with the most dirty areas – tufts of wool between the fingers, to which sand, small debris and liquid mud stick during walks. Breeders recommend washing the paws of apartment standard schnauzers after each walk, along the way, choosing motes entangled in the wool. Do not forget about the decorating hair on the muzzle, which the animal constantly gets dirty while eating, so after each feeding we wipe the dog’s “whiskers” and “beard” with a clean, dry cloth.

You can bathe standard schnauzers once a month with the use of shampoos and balms for coarse hair. By the way, in order to achieve the maximum effect, it is better to dilute detergents with water in a 1: 1 ratio. After the bath, clean wool is blotted with a cotton towel and dried with a hair dryer. In order to comb the dog, stock up on a set of different-sized combs. For example, for “mustache” and “beard” metal combs with rare teeth are suitable. It is better to process hair on the body of a standard schnauzer with a massage wire brush that penetrates deep into the undercoat. This process is quite laborious, since it will be necessary to thoroughly work out the tangled sections of the lower layer of the “fur coat”.

At least twice a year, standard schnauzers are trimmed to remove dead undercoat, thereby creating optimal conditions for faster coat renewal. Hair pinching can be done manually (silicone fingertips are helpful) or with a trimming knife. First of all, the neck and croup are treated, gradually descending to the body and hips of the animal. The head of the standard schnauzer is not trimmed, but cut short with a machine, maintaining a single coat length of 2-3 mm. Frequent haircuts all over the body, which are practiced by some owners, are not at all good for the standard schnauzer. Hair that is constantly trimmed will eventually change its structure, becoming softer. In addition, the undercoat of such standard schnauzers often falls off.

Once a week, take a few minutes to care for the ears of a standard schnauzer. Carefully inspect the pet’s ear passages: there are no specks or excess sulfur secretions in them. If there are any, remove them with a cotton swab and veterinary lotion. It is better to examine the eyes of a standard schnauzer every day, removing lumps accumulated in their corners with a napkin. If there are signs of acidification of the mucous membrane, you can wipe your eyes with a clean cloth soaked in chamomile infusion. For standard schnauzers who eat commercial foods or regularly eat special hard treats from pet stores, brushing their teeth is not necessary. Dry croquettes and pressed bones will do a great job of removing plaque. In all other cases, the dog’s teeth will have to be cleaned manually or using a special brush.

Paddock

The standard schnauzer is an active dog, which, for a happy and long life, needs to be physically “unloaded” regularly, so it will not be easy for an unsportsmanlike owner with a breed. Walking a pet should be twice a day, but it should not be spontaneous “cutting circles around the area.” It is highly desirable that the promenade be held in a lively rhythm and interspersed with physical exercises, tasks for ingenuity and endurance, as well as games. If the standard schnauzer lives in a house where there is a large yard, and even better – a fenced plot of land, you can take it out for walking less often. Just make a few sports equipment for your ward, on which he could improve his physical form.

You can take a puppy of a standard schnauzer outside as early as two weeks after the first vaccination, although some owners are reinsured by not letting the animals go for a walk until they are 4 months old. The owners of the mittels explain such actions with their desire to protect the puppy’s body from street infections. In fact, the bacteria and microorganisms that inhabit the environment are not so dangerous for the standard schnauzer. Worst of all, a puppy that has sat in four walls gets used to the street very poorly and socializes even worse, so if you want to get a ferocious, suspicious beech, lock the standard schnauzer in the apartment and do not let him out until 6 months of age.

Feeding the standard schnauzer

The owner of the standard schnauzer will have to choose between industrial food and natural food on his own, since veterinarians have not decided on the ideal food for this breed. The standard schnauzer himself will absorb both “drying” and meat products with equal pleasure. At the same time, it is important to remember that food from the store – if these options are not lower than the premium class – are balanced in composition and contain the entire complex of trace elements necessary for the dog. As for the “natural”, then the owner of the mittel will have to tinker with to include in the pet’s diet all those products that will provide his body with vital amino acids. In addition, you will have to spend extra money on vitamin and mineral supplements.

Products included in the diet of the standard schnauzer:

• lean meat or its waste;
• offal;
• cereal porridge (oatmeal, rice, buckwheat);
• sea ​​fish;
• vegetables and greens;
• boiled egg (no more than once a week);
• dairy products.

The meat of the standard schnauzers is given raw, chopped into medium-sized pieces (puppies can be cut smaller). In no case do not scrape or scroll the meat into minced meat – you will only spoil the product, and deprive your pet of most of the calories. The bones of the bird will also not bring any benefit, but the young mittel will be sincerely happy with the brain calf bone.

Health and disease of standard schnauzers

The list of hereditary diseases in the breed is impressive, which, however, does not make schnauzers regular customers of veterinary clinics. It is also important to understand that not all dogs have genetic ailments that make themselves felt. Moreover, if a puppy was born from healthy parents, his chances for a long and happy life are quite high.

Typical diseases of standard schnauzers:

• pancreatitis;
• hypothyroidism;
• diabetes;
• bladder infections;
• hip dysplasia;
• allergy;
• melanoma;
• epilepsy;
• lipoma;
• cataract.

How to choose a puppy

• Evaluate how the appearance of the puppy meets the requirements of the standard, but do not get hung up on this too much. It is extremely difficult even for a specialist to guess the future champion in a two-month-old baby.
• Measure your puppy’s height and weight. At two months, the male standard schnauzer must be at least 28 cm at the withers, and its weight must not be less than 4 kg. “Girls” are usually shorter and lighter.
• When you first meet a small standard schnauzer, carefully monitor his reaction. Preference is given to bold, inquisitive quick-witted people who are willing to make contact.
• It’s great to have a breeder show you the father of the puppies, but this rarely happens. Do not miss the opportunity to look at least at the bitch, as well as evaluate her temperament and habits, which, most likely, the offspring will inherit.
• If you are offered puppies from the first litter of a young female who did not manage to acquire prestigious diplomas, do not hesitate to ask about the show achievements of her ancestors.
• Not bad helps in choosing a puppy The act of examination of the litter, which is available in every self-respecting nursery. Request this document from the breeder and carefully read the results of the conclusions. If almost half of the newborn standard schnauzers were rejected by the club specialist, it is better to bypass such a kennel.
• The correct small standard schnauzer should not have traces of a hernia on the abdomen. Dirty fur, bad breath from the puppy, swollen “belly” signal that the breeder does not bother himself too much with caring for pets.

Photos of standard schnauzer puppies

How much is a standard schnauzer

You can buy a puppy of a standard schnauzer for both 250 and 500$. In the first case, it will be a pet with not the most outstanding external data, but with a complete set of documents and a clean pedigree. 400 – 500$ are usually asked for kids with a promising exterior, from “star” parents, who in the foreseeable future will be able to claim champion titles.